von siemens



2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

(No Model.)

W. VON SIEMENS. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROLYTIGALLY SEPARATING METALS PROM ORES.

No. 460,354. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

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BY 54 J3 M ATTORNEY rm: mums PETERS 0a.. Fume-mum, wAsmnaraN, n. c.

(NbModeL) 2 Shew-Sheet 2. I W-, VON SIEMENS. APPARATUS FOR ELEOTROLYTIGALLY SEPARA'LING METALS FROM ORBS.

No. 460,354. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNER VON SIEMENS, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS 8Z7 HALSKE, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYTICALLY SEPARATING METALS FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 460,354, dated September 29, 1891.

Application filed J 1111s 13, 1890. Serial No. 355,293. (No model.) Patented in Germany January 2,

1889, No. 48,959; in Spain April 10, 1889, No. 9,318; in Italy May 80, 1889, No. 25,017, and in Austria-Hungary October 11,1890,N0.2.784 and No.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WERNER VoN SIEMENs, a subject of the King of Prussia, German E mperor, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Electrolytically Separating Metals from Ores, (for which I have obtained apatent in Germany, No. 48,959, bearing date January 2, 1889; in Spain, No. 9,318, bearing date April 10, 1889; in Italy, No. 25,017, bearing date May 30, 1889; and in Austria-Hungary, Nos. 2,7 84 and 2,772, bearing date October 11, 1890,) of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to apparatus for carrying out the electrolytical process described and claimed in the Letters Patent of the United States No. 416,576, issued to me October 31, 1889, and especially to that part thereof in which the electrolytical deposition of a metal contained in the electrolyte is accomplished and the resulting solution rendered suitable for dissolving the salts of the same metal. In that patent a solution of a salt of the metal which it was desired to obtain and of a corresponding ferrous salt were submitted to the action of a vertical cathode-plate, whereby the desired metal was deposited and the resulting solution was then submitted to the action of an anode-plate of suitable material, whereby the ferrous salt was converted into a ferric salt, which possessed the above-11am ed property of dissolving certain salts of the desired metal, and it is upon this process that this invention is also based; butirrthe said patent, as in other devices heretofore used for analogous purposes, the anode and cathode plates have been vertical and have been separated by diaphragms of sufficient density to prevent the passage of the solution surrounding the different plates, but which permit the passage of the electric current, and these diaphragms have possessed the well-known faults which are connected with all separating-diaphragms in electrolytic operations-viz., either the resistance thereof to the electric current has been too great, or

' if it has a suitable value the diaphragms are of no durability, and soon allow the mixing of the liquids which they should keep separated sometimesby diffusion and sometimes through taining a salt of the metal and a ferrous salt circulates, depositing its metal, and from which it passes through ascreen to the anodeplate situated below the said cathode-plate, where its ferrous salts are converted in ferric ones, and where it escapes, the relative position of the plates enabling me to accomplish the above-men tionedobject; and myinvention 1 also consists in certain improved construcafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in WhlCh corresponding similar letters and numerals, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of an electrolytical. cell,

parts are designated by I made by the planeg 3 Fig. 2, constructed ac- I cording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the cell illustrated in Fig. 1, theleft cathoderoll being shown in section made along line x 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of amodified form of the cell shown in Figs. 1 and 2, made by the line z a, Fig. 4:, being also constructed according to my invention. Fig. 4 is a top view of the cell shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a' vertical central section of-another form of cell. Fig. 6 is a top view of the cell shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents one form of anode. Fig. 8 represents a perspective view of a portion of the corrugated lead plate shown in cross-section in Fig. 1, the circles indicating the perforations. Fig. 9 represents a cross-section of a cathode-roll on the liney y, Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a plan View of the screen broken away to show the anode A and support D. Fig. 11 is a plan view of one form of my anode.

The cell proper B in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a rather fiat wooden vessel V, covered externally and internally with lead 4;, or is constructed of any other suitable material, and is provided with a perforated false bottom D, over which the anode A is placed. The

5 tions of the anode-plate, as will be hereinlatter may consist of lead plates (shown in Fig. 8) with rather high corrugations, also. perforated, to allow the passage of the electrolyte, as shown, or may consist of pieces or plates of retort-carbon corrugated and perforated as above, or otherwise conveniently shaped, and in contact with or otherwise-in electric connection with each other. Over this horizontal anode a filter layer or screen E is spread, consisting of .two fine-wire screens on a frame 6 c, this forming the only separation between the lower or anode portion of the cell and the upper or cathode portion and preventing the liquid surrounding the anode frombeing agitated byathe motionof theliquidsurroundingthecathode.

The cathode consists of a number of cylindrical or prismatic bodies 0 O (J, which are located inthe upper=part of the cell, resting on the bearings F Fyand being completelyv By means of submerged in the electrolyte. a suitable mechanical connection .13 "these cylinders can {be Ekept-in a'slow and continual rotation. These cylinders can 'bemadexof. wood, havingacoatof-wax cor of similar ma-' terial,.with:a conductingzmetallic coating 0" over it, the current being carried thereto.

through the .gudgeons of the cylinders, or

more'directly-by means of sliding pieces 'or contact-brushes, as shown atrF'in Figs. 321116.41.

The .oppositepole of :the battery is connected to the'anodeA through the side. ofthe .cell in any convenient way. The solution .to he sub- .j GClJBditOfiiQCtIObRSlS containing a salt of the.

metal to be eXtracted,-a;ferroussalt, and free acid entersthe upper or cathode stratum filla continuous stream through ttherpipe G, and after having beenifreed.of' thegreater'part-of itsimetal, which is precipitated on the rotating cathodes O- G0,:passes slowly-but continuously through the screen E into the anode.

portion of 1311810611. Here .underthe action of .the :anode the ferrous salts are oxidized; andrconverted'into ferric-salts, and becoming heavier sink more'and more, passing through, the false bottomDinto the-bottom of the cell,

whence-they'are drawn off .bymeans of the siphon -H, {the height of which .regulates the height of the electrolyte'within the cathode.

portiontof the=cell. If the quantity ofinflowingsolution, the electric current,'and the dischargeof'theoxidized solution are properly adjusted, the result ofthisprocess is that the solution-to besubjected-to electrolysis loses about two-thirds of itscontents ofthe desired metal in the cathodeportionofthe cell, while in theanode-portion of the cell its ferrous salts are converted into ferric ones,as is desired.

In Figs. 3 and 4 theanodeA, consisting of carbon or of another suitable substance, forms a trough-or channel, either of a semicircular sectiomas shown, or ofthe shape ofa V. This anodeis provided on its inner surfaces the surfaces facing :the cathode with small wedge-shaped furrows or chainfers a. The

cathode C is constructed in the manner. de-.

scribed above, and is located inside of the anode, and'is separated therefrom by means of the curved filtering-screen E, otherwise constructed as in Figs. 1 and 2, the latter being-fixed to a suitable frame to retain it in position. It will be seen that by this arrangement a very large surface is provided, which is subjected to the action of the electric current. The solution, rich in the metal to be extracted, enters the cell in a divided stream by means ofthe pipe I, which runs above the cathode O, and in circulating around the latter, which is kept in continual rotation, as

above described, loses the larger part of its metallic contents and passes through the filter "Einto' the anode portion';where theoxidation of the ferrous salts sets in, and this is assisted by the above-mentioned furrows or chambers,

as at their edges the oxidation commences, zandiithesliquid growing heavier thereby sinks gradually deepertinto their vvalleys between the edges, wherethe complete oxidationtakes place, andfromthe deepest pointsofthe valleysthe liquid moves slowly to the :lowest part of'-the=cell,'froin which itis drawn off by means of the .pipeH'. In'this way the particles 'ofthe liquid move on. simply .by-gravityin iamanner most advantageous to the galvanic action, bec'auseas soon "as the particles-of the liquid:are sufficiently oxidized 'atthe edges of the furrows 'theyleave these edges and make room for particles not yet oxidized. Asa consequence,the resistance -of-the-cell'is kept very-low, and even-with an unusually strong electric current no polarization-takes place.

In 'Figs. '5 and =6, B is a circular vessel or tray, preferably made ofhard lead, atthe'bot- .tom ofwhich thei'horizontal anode A zis placed,

which :Inay consist, as shown in the drawings, ofa great numberof short carbon rods :orpoints,which,:res.ting on'the lead liningof the bottom of "the cell, arein :good electrical connection with'the bottomof the lead vessel, or it may be'formed of agrate composed :of a number of horizontal carbon rods 1'1,

withanetallic bands 2 2 lying on either sideo't and in contact with the said carbon rods and securedto each other by bolts between the said 'rods holding them together, and said j :bands connected -to each other and tothe-positive pole of the *battery by strips'Sand wires 4, or tl'irough'the metal composing the inte rior of the cell, or, as the above-described c011- structions of anode are equivalent toafurrowed or charnbered anode, as shown in Figs.

. filter or screen E on the one hand with the source of electricity by means of sliding contacts 11 and on the other hand with the lower surface of the cathode K. By means of the pulley h, mounted on the axle J, the cathode can be kept in continual and slow motion. The solution to be subjected to electrolysis continuously flows through the axle J, which is hollow, down to the lower surface of the cathode 0 where, by the rotatory motion thereof, it is thrown outward, where the electrolytical deposition takes place, while the solution, becoming poorer in metallic contents and being pushed gradually forward by the entrance of the fresh liquid, passes everywhere through the into the anode portion of the cell. Here the solution becoming oxidized and becoming heavier sinks more and more, and is finally withdrawn from the lowest portion by means of the pipe H All cells shown in Figs. 1 to 6 have, as we have seen, revolving cathodes, whereby a slight current or vibration of the electrolyte near the cathode is produced. This current or motion of the electrolyte near the cathode is absolutely necessary if we Want to obtain a good quality of copper and to employ a great density of electric current per square foot of cathode-surface. It is clear that by this motion every moment new particles of the electrolyte must come in contact with the oathode, and as these new particles will always containsufficient copper for electric precipitation no electric current is lost by evolving hydrogen instead of precipitating copper at the cathode, which otherwiseif the electrolyte near the cathode is kept without motionwould certainly take place. As this beneficial and necessary vibration or motion of the electrolyte is the only purpose of the rotatingmoveinent of the cathode, we can do without the latter if we effectuate the former by some other means.

It may be here stated that the filter or screen E in any of the forms shown herein is not so much used for the purpose of separating the liquid surrounding the cathode from the liquid surrounding the anode, but for the purpose of stopping the rotatory and shaking motion of the solution surrounding the cathode when it passes therethrough on its way to the anode and for protecting the already more or less oxidized solution near the anode 'from injurious currents, which would effect a mixing of the already-oxidized solution with the solution not yet'oxidized and still rich in metallic contents, thus destroying the working of the apparatus, be-

cause the solution leaving the apparatus would neither be poor in metallic contents nor be sufficiently oxidized. On the other hand, as we have seen, a certain movement of the solution around the cathode has the valuable property of bringing new particles thereof continuously in contact with the latter, thereby promoting a quick and complete deposition of the metal and permitting at the same time the use of an unusual strong electric current per square foot of cathode-surface. It may be also added that in all forms of my invention shown herein the corresponding poles of a suitable source of electricity should be connected to the anode and cathode plates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electrolytical cell, the combination of a revolving cathode, a trough-shaped anode situated below the said cathode, in the trough of which the cathode revolves, a screen permitting the passage of the electrolyte and of electricity and capable of preventing the passage of vibrations of the electrolyte situated between the said cathode and anode, and means for supplying the electrolyte above the screen and for withdrawing the oxidized liquid from the bottom of the trough of the anode, as described.

2. In an electrolytical cell, the combination of a cathode, an anode beneath the said cathode formed of suitable material and having its faces furrowed or chamfered, and means for introducing the electrolyte tothe cathode and for withdrawing the oxidized liquid from the base of the said furrows or chambers, as described.

3. In an electrolytical cell, the combination of a trough shaped anode formed of suitable material, having its internal faces furrowed or chamfered, a revolving cathode above the anode and in the trough thereof, a screen permitting the passage of the electrolyte and of electricity, and capable of preventing the passage of vibrations of the electrolyte situated between the said cathode and anode, and means for supplying the electrolyte above the screen and for withdrawing the oxidized liquid from the bottom of the trough of the anode, as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

IVERNER VON SIEMENS.

\Vitnesses:

W. H. EDwAaDs, W. HAUPT.

ITO 

